Following the example of the life and work of St. Vincent de Paul, the 17th century French saint known as the "Apostle of Charity," DePaul University will be hosting its sixth annual Vincentian Service Day on May 3.

The event is designed to honor the spirit of service that mirrors the influence of the university’s namesake. Approximately 1,000 volunteers – students, faculty, staff and alumni – will take part in community service projects across the city and suburbs. They will join together to perform more than 4,000 hours of community service at 27 different sites around Chicago. The goal for the day, which coincides with the end of National Volunteer Week, is to engage with the community and build relationships with neighborhoods through acts of service.

Media availability at the volunteer sites will be from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The volunteers will take part in a variety of projects this year. Among the sites are:

§ Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive: Volunteers, including the Rev. John P. Minogue, C.M., DePaul University president, will be helping with cleaning and maintenance in some of the animal habitats, as well as gardening tasks around the zoo.

§ El Valor, 24th St. & Kildare Ave.: Volunteers will be cleaning a property that recently was purchased by the Pilsen-based social service organization to house a future facility.

§ Port Ministry, 5017 S. Hermitage Ave.: Participants will help to install a children’s playground at the social service facility.

§ Chicago Commission of Animal Care and Control, Block 37, State & Randolph Streets, (students will also be volunteering at the agency’s facility at 2741 S. Western Ave.): DePaul volunteers will be working with dogs to help socialize them for adoption initiatives.

In addition to these sites, DePaul’s Barat and Lake Forest campuses are planning a volunteer project for the day, and the Naperville and O’Hare campuses will host volunteer service projects on May 17.

"This day will bring all elements of the DePaul community together through service," said Greg Stolhand, DePaul University Vincentian Service Day coordinator. "For this many people to come together to serve others is a testament to the DePaul experience."

DePaul is the largest Catholic university in the nation and the country’s eighth-largest private university. DePaul was founded in 1898 by the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers (the Congregation of the Mission), a Roman Catholic religious community that continues the mission and values of Vincent de Paul.